Clock.



- PATENTED APR. 7, 1903. E. FITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1902 a SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS m. rucrau'rwo, WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

E. PITCH.

CLOCK.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 12, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

x0 x'onnn.

\llll... o I

ORNEY No. 724,460. I PATEN'TED APR. 7, 1903.

E. FITCH.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION PILED HAY 12, 1902. 5

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W BY Y ATTORNEY m: nomus PETERS co. vuovmm'ua,WASHINGTON, u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE FITCH, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

CLOCK.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,460, dated April'7,

Application filed May 12, 1902. Serial No. 1(l6,l3'78. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE FITCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at the borough of Manhattan, county of New York, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTime-Indicators, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to time-indicators or clocks or indicatingdevices, and has for its principal object to provide improved means forsuccessively exposing the indicatingplates. According to my inventionthe indicating-plates are pivotally mounted upon a rotating partarranged with its axis slightly inclined upward and rearward from thevertical, so as to utilize the force of gravity in the control of theplates and yet expose the plates in a nearly vertical plane. Accordingto my invention each indicating-plate is pivotally mounted on therotating part, so as to swing freely and without restraint thereon; butthe plates are so combined with a stop for restraining their movementthat the advance plate in contact with the stop coacts with the adjacentplates in rear to develop a resilient force which will swing the plateon its pivot when the plate is released from the stop and cause the nextsucceeding plate in rear to be exhibited.

My invention also includes a trap to catch the plates after they havebeen released by the stop to prevent retrograde movement thereof, theemployment of a resilient stop, an improved arrangement oftime-indicatin g plates, so as to give the indications in accordancewith the ordinary reading of time, and various improvements in theconstruction and combination of parts.

I will now describe the time-indicator or clock embodying my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings and will thereafter point outmy invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a time-indicator embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal Vertical section of thesame. Figs. 2 and 2 are respectively an enlarged front elevation andplan view showing the construction of pivoting means for theindicating-plates. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same,taken on a plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,and 9 are face views ofindicating-plates,showingditferentindicationsthereof. Fig. 10 is a'frontelevation of a time-indicator of modified construction. Fig. 11 is acentral longitudinal vertical section of the same.

The actuating part of the time-indicator may be a clock-movement of anysuitable construction, and I have not, therefore, illustrated thedetails of the clock-movement, showing only the exterior of the casinga, within which this clock-movement is inclosed, and showing theminute-spindle f and the second-spindle 0, projecting upwardlytherefrom. As usual, the minute-spindle will make one completerevolution every hourand the second-spindle will make one completerevolution every minute. This clock-movement is set slightly obliquelyin the base or standard g, so'that the minute-spindlefand thesecond-spindle 0 incline slightly upward and rearward from the vertical,this inclination of the minute-spindle accomplishing the functionhereinafter set'forth. The minutespindle extends upward for aconsiderable distance and has a bearing at its upper end in abearing-piece h of a frame extending up from the base or standard g,this frame hav in g vertical supporting-posts t and arc-shapedhorizontal members at, connecting the posts i The hour-indicatingplates 1) are marked or impressed with numbers toindicate the hours, andthe min ute-indicating plates care marked or impressed with numbers toindicate the minutes. Each of these plates is provided with means forpivotally connecting it with its plate-carrying rotating part and isdetachably connected to its pivoting means, and such pivoting meanscomprises pivot-pins b for the hour-plates b, and c for the minuteplates0, each pivot-pin atits ends entering perforations in a pair of disks d(Z for the hour-plates and e e for the minute-plates. Each of thepivot-pins is provided'with springholders b for the hour-plates and cfor the minute-plates, adapted to receive and clamp the correspondingplates, and, as shown, three of these spring-holders are provided oneach pivot-pin. This construction provides a simple and strong pivot andsimplifies the work of assembling and the renewal of plates.

The plate-carrying disks are shown as fitted to rotate on a common axisin alinement with the minute-spindle of the clock-movement. The disks 6e, carrying the minute-indicating plates 0, are secured upon theminute-spindle f of the clock-movement, and in the construction shown inFigs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the minute-indicatin g plates 0 are arrangedabove the hour-indicating plates 1), While in the modified constructionshown in Figs. 10 and 11 the minute-indicating plates 0 are arrangedbelow the hour-indicating plates 1). In both constructions the disks dd, carrying the hourindicating plates, are secured upon a sleevej, whichis loosely mounted on the minute-spindle f, so as to rotate freelythereon, and the hour-spindle is actuated by ordinary hourhandreducing-gears of a clock-movement, shown as comprising a pinion Z,secured upon the minute-spindle f, intermediate gears 70, and thegear7t,secured upon the hour-sleevej. In the constructions shown inFigs. 1 to 9, inclusive, this hour reducing-gearing is located justabove the clockwork-casing a, while in the modified construction shownin Figs. 10 and 11 this hour reducing-gear is 1ocated at the top of theapparatus, just above the upper disk 61 of the hour rotating part.

The means for controlling the movements of the time-indicating plates soas to cause the plates of each series to be periodically successivelyexposed comprises a stop for each series of plates, arranged in the pathof movement of the plates so as to successively restrain their movementand release them, and this stop has a resilient action and by lightbackward pressure upon the front plate -presses this plate back againstadjacent plates in rear and holds it in a substantially tangentialposition, with its front face substantially in the plane of the front ofthe indicator or clock, and therefore in a position best adapted forexhibiting the indication on the front of the plate, and also bringsabout a slight rearward deflection such that when the front plate iscarried beyond the stop and released therefrom a resilient force isexerted, which throws the plate with sufficient force to carry itthrough an angle of about one hundred and eighty degrees, or from aposition in which the front of the plate is exhibited to a position inwhich the back of the plate is exhibited. By the provision of aresilient stop I am enabled to develop this resilient force uniformlyand with light pressure, the resilient stop being self-adjusting tocompensate for any variations in the resiliency of the differentindicating-plates, and I have shown pivoted spring-actuated stops, thestop q for the hour-plates and the stop 7' for the minute-plates, thesestops being pivoted on plates q and 1", respectively, adjustably securedto arc-shaped members a of the frame Mo, and actuated by light springs gand r respectively. By reason of the slight upward and rearwardinclination of the axis of the plate-carrying parts the movement of eachplate after it has been released from its stop is slightly upward andagainst gravity for the first half ofi'ts movement and slightly downwardor with gravity for the latter half of its movement, so that it is onlynecessary that the resilient force should be sufficient to carry theplate overits highest pointthemiddle point of its movementand the weightor gravity of the plate will finish its movement and hold it forwardagainst the next preceding plate. In the modified construction shown inFigs. 9 and 10 I have relied only upon the gravity or weight of theplates to held the advance exposed plate with its back exposed; but inthe construction shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, I have provided atrap for the plates of each series for catching each plate after it hascompleted its movement, so as to preventa return movement of the platein the event that the clock or indicator is inclined forward from thenormal position shown or is carried about. These traps-o for thehour-plates and. 'u for the minute-plates-are shown as pivoted latchesactuated by light springs, so that they will be yieldingly held innormal positions and will afford slight resistance to the forwardmovement of the plates past the traps, while preventing backwardmovement of the plates after they have passed the trap. The spring w ofthe trap 01 is shown in Fig. 3. The corresponding spring for the trap 12is not shown, but its construction is identically the same as that ofthe spring w of the trap o, and the two traps o and o are of identicalconstruction. Each of these traps is of sufficient lightness andmobility to be readily pushed aside by a moving plate and will return tothe normal position shown immediately after the plate has passed it. Theoperation of the trap is merely to be pushed or swung sufficiently toclear a plate by contact with the plate itself and to return to normalposition under the action of its spring as soon as the plate has movedclear of it. I have also shown retaining-springs a: and :0,respectively, beyond the traps,which act to relieve the traps of aportion of the weight of the plates should the timeindicator be tippedconsiderably forward.

The time-indicating plates will be sufficiently numerous to indicate bytheir successive exposures intervals of time sufficiently short for allpractical purposes, and I have shown the same number of plates toindicate the minutes and hours. I have shown as a suitable number sixtyplates in each series. As the hour rotating part makes one completerevolution every twelve hours, this arrangement provides for fivesuccessive indications of the same hour, one every twelve minutes, whileas the minute rotating part makes one complete revolution every hourthis arrangement provides for one indication for each minute. Theindications are afforded by the exposure of the back of one plate andthe front of the next succeeding plate, and the back and front of thesetwo adthe indications, as shown.

jacent plates will be exhibited side by side, with their inner verticaledges adjacent, and the indication to be given will be partly marked onthe back of the advance plate and partly marked on the front of theadjacent plate in rear. NVhere the indication consists of a singlenumber, as that of the hour 5 in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 and of the minute 1in Figs. 7 and 9, this number will be partly marked on each of these twoexposed surfaces. This is also true of the words Past and of andHalf-past, forming part of I also provide for changing the indication ofthe hour at the half-houras, for example, the next indication afterHalfpast 4, Fig. 3, is 29 of 5-and for indicating by the minute-platesthe interval past the hour from the hour to the half-hour, as 29 past 4,Fig. 4, Halfpast 4,. Fig. 5., 1 past 5, Fig. 9, and indicating theinterval toward the next hour from the half-hour to the next hour, as 29of 5, Fig. 6, l of 5, Fig. 7 This arrangement of indications correspondsto the most usual reading of time from the ordinary clockdial, whileembodying the substantial advantage of the use of indicating-plates thatthe work of calculation from the position of hands is entirely obviated,and it is only necessary to glance at the indication and read it to beapprised of the minute and hour of the day.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 I have notembodied the above-described feature of my invention, but have providedfor an indication such as has been heretofore used similar to the wellknown railroad time table arrangement, changing the hour-indication ateach hour and giving a minute-indication of the interval past the houruntil the next succeeding; hour is reached. 7

The second spindle 0 is provided with an indicator n, having a pluralityof faces in planes parallel to the axis of the spindle, and each ofthese faces is marked. to indicate the interval in seconds representedby the exposure of the face in the plane of the front of the clock orindicator. As shown, four of these faces are provided, marked toindicate the successive quarters of a minute, as 15, 30, 45, 60. Theslight upward and rearward inclination of the axis of the second spindleaccomplishes no function in this construction and is merely incidentalto the inclination of the clock-movement as a whole; but it is to beobserved that this inclination is not noticeable to a person standing infront of the clock or indicator.

The cover for the indicating part of the clock or indicator is oftransparent material, as glass, and has an outer Wall 8 and an innerwall 5, forming a chamber for the reception of a fluid, and this chamberis nearly filled with a colored fluid and creates the impression thatthe entire cover is filled with this fluid, with the indicating-platesimmersed in it. The walls of the chamber approach quite closely togetherat the front, so that but a thin body of fluid is in front of theindicating-plates, while the walls of the chamber are farthest apart atthe back, thereby compensating for the thinness of the body of fluid atthe front, and the change in the distance between the walls of thechamber is gradual, so that along all diametrical lines the totalthickness of the body of fluid is sub-. stantially uniform and theliquid presents a uniform tint when viewed from all substantiallyhorizontal directions. The chamber in the cover is emptied and filledthrough an opening along the lower edge thereof, which may be closed bya cork s as shown. It is evident that various modifications may be madein the constructions shownv and above particularly described within thespirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. Thecombination, with a plurality of indicating-plates, of a rotating parton which such plates are pivotally m0unted, each of such plates beingmounted on such rotating part so as to swing freely thereon and the axisof such rotating part being arranged at a slight inclination upward andrearward from the vertical, means for rotating such part, and a stoparranged to successively coact with such plates and press the advanceplate back upon adjacent plates in rear so as to develop a resilientforce to swing the plate and cause the next plate to be exposed.

2. The combination, with a plurality of in: I dicating-plates, of arotating part on which.

such plates are pivotally mounted, each of"- such plates being mountedon such rotating; part so as to swing freely thereon and the axis ofsuch rotating part being arranged at j a slight inclination upward andrearward from the vertical, means for rotating such part, and aresilient stop arranged to successively coact with such plates and pressthe advance plate back upon adjacent plates in rear so as to develop aresilient force to swing the plate and cause the next plate to beexposed.

3. In a time-indicator, in combination, a clock-movement, aplate-carrying rotating part actuated thereby, and arranged with itsaxis slightly inclined upward and rearward from the vertical, aplurality of time-indicating plates carried by such rotating part, eachplate being pivotally mounted onthe rotating part so as to swing freelythereon,and a stop arranged to successively coact with such plates andpress the advanceplate back upon adja-- cent plates in rear and therebydevelop aresilient force to swing the plate and cause the next plate tobe exposed.

4. In a time-indicator, in combination, a clock-movement, aplate-carrying rotating part actuated thereby, and arranged with itsaxis slightly inclined. upward and rearward from the vertical, aplurality of time-indicating plates carried by such'rotating part, eachi plate being pivotally mounted on the rotat ing part so as to swingfroely thereon, and a resilient stop arranged to successively coact withsuch plates and press the advance plate back upon adjacent plates inrear and thereby develop a resilient force to swing the plate and causethe next plate to be exposed.

5. The combination, with a plurality of indicating-plates, of a rotatingpart on which such plates are pivotally mounted, each of such platesbeing mounted on such rotating part so as to swing freely thereon, meansfor rotating such part, a stop arranged to successively coact with suchplates and press the advance plate back upon adjacent plates in rear soas to develop a resilient force to swing the plate and cause the nextplate to be exposed, and a trap arranged to successively catch theplates to prevent backward movement thereof.

6. In a time-indicator, in combination, a clock-movement, ap1ate-carrying rotating part actuated thereby, a plurality oftime-indicating plates carried by such rotating part, each plate beingpivotally mounted on the rotating part so as to swin g freely thereon, aresilient stop arranged to successively coact with such plates and pressthe advance plate back upon adjacent plates in rear and thereby developa resilient force to swing the plate and cause the next plate to beexposed, and a trap arranged to successively catch the plates to preventbackward movement thereof 7. In a time-indicator, in combination, aclockmovement, a plate-carrying rotating part actuated thereby andarrangedwith its axis slightly inclined upward and rearward from thevertical, a plurality of time-indicating plates carried by such rotatingpart, each plate being pivotally mounted on the rotating part so as toswing freely thereon, a resilient stop arranged in the path of movementof the time-indicating plates so as to successively coact with suchplates and press the advance plate back upon the adjacent plates in rearand thereby develop a resilient force to swing the plate and cause thenext plate to be exposed, and a trap arranged to successively catch theplates to prevent retrograde movement thereof.

8. In a time-indicator, in combination, a clock -movement, aplate-carrying rotating part actuated thereby and arranged with its axisslightly inclined upward and rearward from the vertical, a plurality oftime-indicating plates carried by such rotating part, each plate beingpivotally mounted on the rotating part so as to swing freely thereon, aresilient stop arranged in the path of movement of the time-indicatingplates so as to succes sively restrain their movement and release them,a trap arranged to successively catch the plates and to preventretrograde movement thereof,and a retaining-spring arranged to coactwith such trap.

9. The combination with a plurality of indicating plates, of a rotatingpart on which such plates are pivotally mounted, and means for rotatingsuch part, and a pivoted stop located in the path of the plates and aspring for causing the stop to press the advance plate back uponadjacent plates in rear and thereby develop a resilient force to swingthe plate and cause the next plate to be exposed.

In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

EUGENE FITCH. Witnesses:

HENRY D. WILLIAMS, WALTER L. BUNNELL.

